DARK VISIONS by Aunia Kahn

SLEEP CATASTROPHE

by Aunia Kahn

Sleep, sleep but don’t sleep too deep or too long
The birds will sit on the cherry tree top branch
Serenading with the song of insomnia at 2 am
Why not suffer some other negative consequence
Sleep — 1, 2, 3
Sleep — 4, 5, 6

Where are the sheep, and the candlesticks
Out in the kitchen, getting a drink

The catastrophe is always accompanied by the pillow
You know, the one her head lands on at night
The sheep will not count themselves, young lady
Night lights broken, and the street lamp mocks
Sleep — 1, 2, 3
Sleep — 4, 5, 6

Where are the sheep, and the candlesticks
Out the window, catching a dream

Sleep, sleep but don’t sleep to deep or too long
The birds will sit on the cherry tree top branch
Serenading with the song of insomnia at 2 am
Why not suffer some other negative consequence
Sleep — 1, 2, 3
Sleep — 4, 5, 6

Where are the sheep, and the candlesticks
Out in the kitchen, getting a drink

The catastrophe is always accompanied by the pillow
You know, the one her head lands on at night
The sheep will not count themselves, young lady
Night lights broken, and the street lamp mocks
Sleep — 1, 2, 3
Sleep — 4, 5, 6

Where are the sheep, and the candlesticks
Out the window, catching a dream

TINY PAPER

Written words on vibrant colored paper
Stored in shoe boxes under my bed
They were supposed to be affirmations
Affirming all the things I should already know

Sliding the box out, pulling out bunnies
Dust bunnies dance about wanting to get inside
The box, still tightly closed — 10 years ago and running
Little golden, deteriorating tape barely holding on
Secured from intruders, with no strength — of course

Opening the box, there was a sign
Paper crumbled little messages
Taking one out, each unwrinkled at a time
Words, for words — the ones that you never saw
Sticking my hand inside, pushing around
Sifting through multi-colored wisdoms
Digging deeper and deeper for the notion
Grab, and pull — nope, not the right one
This time it will be it, I know it
One last time for the team of innocence
Poking and prodding at the ruffled paper
Words, for words — the ones that you never saw

The paper light purple, torn edges
So wrinkled, it could be used as kindling
The flame which burns for a new life
The heat of an answer, right on the edge

“Today, is your day. Make it good.”

A TRIP AWAY

She opened a book with a jacket covered in
White and olive, a love affair with blending
The branch reached out and touched her
Weary smile, and saddened eyes
When times would rage by like a lioness
Not a moment to recuperate
Then just like that, times would
End in a slow motion train wreck
Abandoned on the island with songbirds
Telling stories of others who have come
Those that have gone off the shore or to safety
The train's whistle blew loud and clear
Calling out the names of the remaining
Time to take a trip, a trip away from here.

Aunia Kahn is a self-taught figurative artist, photographer, author, and curator. She combines many disciplines and invariably designs, builds, and executes characters, non-existent places, dreams, illusions, fears and fables into creation, which meld elements of classical and contemporary art. Aunia's work has constantly evolved; earlier works dealt more with her past, while her more recent creations delve into present emotional conflicts and inspirations.

Her work has garnered several awards, while her national and international exhibitions and residencies range from Santa Fe, Berlin, Frankfurt, Hong Kong, Ireland, Canada, UK, New York, Los Angeles and scores in between. Aunia has curated numerous exhibitions across the country, as well as lectures at colleges and universities.

She is also the creator of the Silver Era Tarot deck, Inspirations for Survivors deck, Lowbrow Tarot Project, the forthcoming Tarot Under Oath project, Muse Tarot, Witch Oracle, and the author of Obvious Remote Chaos, and Minding the Sea: Inviting the Muses Over for Tea . She currently resides in Illinois with her four German Shepherds and black cat in her secret closet.